ichneumon

[ ik-noo-muhn, -nyoo- ]

noun

1. Also called Af·ri·can mon·goose [af, -ri-k, uh, n , mong, -goos, mon, -],. a slender, long-tailed mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, inhabiting Africa and southern Europe, and believed by the ancient Egyptians to devour crocodile eggs.
2. ichneumon fly.

ichneumon

/ ɪkˈnjuːmən /

noun

1. a mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, of Africa and S Europe, having greyish-brown speckled fur

Word History and Origins

Origin of ichneumon¹

1565–75; < Latin < Greek ichneúmōn tracker, equivalent to ichneú ( ein ) to track ( ichno- ) + -mōn agent suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of ichneumon¹

C16: via Latin from Greek, literally: tracker, hunter, from ikhneuein to track, from ikhnos a footprint; so named from the animal's alleged ability to locate the eggs of crocodiles

Example Sentences

What of the infinite goodness of God in teaching the grub of the ichneumon-fly to eat up the cabbage caterpillar alive?

From Project Gutenberg

Apparently the ichneumon fly (Ophion obscurum), and not the true sawfly, is meant.

From Project Gutenberg

There are several species of ichneumon which make thinnings among the caterpillars of the cabbage butterfly.

From Project Gutenberg

This is an act of cruelty which resembles that of the ichneumon, to which it may well be compared.

From Project Gutenberg

This work dates from 668; and in it the creature is an ichneumon.

From Project Gutenberg